Mother: Marine Jailed in Mexico 'Trying to Stay Courageous'

The U.S. Marine languishing in a dreary Mexican jail cell after he says he accidentally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border with guns in his truck is "trying to stay courageous" as he fights for freedom, his heartsick mother says.

"I spoke to Andrew this morning, because he calls pretty much now every morning and evening, that's one of the few rights that he has,'' Jill Tahmooressi said Tuesday on Newsmax's TV's "The Steve Malzberg Show."

Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi has been held since April 1, when he says he unintentionally crossed the border after making a wrong turn. He had guns in his truck, which he legally possessed in the United States, and says he told Mexican border guards they were there.

Tahmooressi's defense is relying partly on his claim that his rights were denied by border agents the night he was arrested.

"Every time he goes before the judge, he's hopeful the judge will just release him, but that [doesn't] happen,'' Jill Tahmooressi said.

"So, he is always very despondent when he has to go back to [to prison] . . . [A] motion is being filed to dismiss the case. So, we're just hopeful that the judge will rule in our favor.

"There's no rational sense for Mexico to continue to hold him when there's absolutely been no evidence set forth to convict him as far as intentionally trying to go through Mexico with his guns.''

She said she fears there could be a more nefarious reason for her son's dilemma.

"What makes it so worrisome is because you have to wonder if they're not holding onto him as a political pawn for some sort of retaliation for something that Andrew wasn't even directly involved in,'' Tahmooressi said.

The U.S. Marine languishing in a dreary Mexican jail cell after he says he accidentally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border with guns in his truck is "trying to stay courageous" as he fights for freedom, his heartsick mother says.